Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-06-10
CATHOLICS AND KNIGHTS,
1t VIII Probably Be Decided That
Catholics May Join Labor
Societies.
Cardinal Gibbons viii Call Council
of the Eleven ArehbiShopS
to Decide.
Irishmen Endorse o'Brien's ..etion

NEW YORK, June 6.-The Commercial
Advertiser says Cardinal Gibbons refuses
to say anything of his intended actions on
the labor question. Before giving his
views to the public, he will cali council
of the elevon alchbishops of the Ameri-
can Catholic hierarchy, and then decisive
steps will be taken, which will leave no
doubt of the church's attitude. From a
close companion of the cardinal Com
mercial Advertiser reporter received some
iutimation regarding the probable char
acter of the forthcoming pronunciamento.
The right of laboring men to combine
for their common benefit will be
conceded and all such lawful com
binations will receive the blessings
of the church. But Catholics will
be forbidden to take part in boycotts or
other infringements of the rights of
citizens, and they will be forbidden to
join any organization which practices in
timidation, whether of violent or other
character. No Catholic will be permitted
to become a member of any order which
binds Its members to secrecy or blind
obedience to the dictates of leaders
Secret passwords may be permitted but a
Catholic must have no secret which can
not be reached by the confessional if
necessary. 1t will also be proposed that
a closer relation be brought about between
Catholic members of the labor organiza-
tions and the Catholic clergy. The object
of this is TO prevent Catholic laboring
men from drifting off from the church
on account of their association with Prot
estants, and to keep them from adopting
theories whick are antagonistic to the
church's dogmas. The necessity of this
course has been demonstrated clearly of
late by the number of Catholics, who
have lnocently, perhaps, taken up ideas
which the church frowns upon and will
probably condemn outright in the near
future. 1t will not be proposed, howey er
to make the clergy meddiers in labor
affairs. They will be merely instructed
to be vigilant, invite confidence and
counsel members of their flock who be-
long TO trade unions.
From the same source it was also
learned that Cardinal Gibbons position
in the McGlynn case is simply this: He
likes DR.. McGlynn personally and does
not condemn him for advocating general
property in land, for that doctrine has
not yet been pronounced heretical by the
pope speaking ex-cathedra; but he does
blame DIR. McGlynn for rebelling against
his ecclesiastical superors and dabbling in
politics to an extent unSecoming his
priestly character.
1t is probable that the council of arch
bishops will be held in Baltimore early in
the summer. 1t seems that at present
large majority of the prelates are inclined
to look with favor on labor organizations
now existing, but few are violently op-
posed to them. Among those is the ven
cradle Archbishop Fenwick, of st. Louis,
the Oldest prelate in the hierarchy. He
has pronounced the Knights of Labor an
unlawful order, and has denounced their
methods as barbarous. However, since
most of the bishops do not hold Fen
wick's views, it is almost certain the
council will adopt the mild measures
mentioned above